JP5755465B2 - Automatic ice machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic ice maker configured to supply makeup water to an ice making water tank when ice making water in the ice making water tank reaches a predetermined water level in ice making operation.

  As an automatic ice maker that automatically manufactures a large amount of ice, for example, an evaporating pipe derived from a refrigeration system is installed in an ice making section installed vertically, and ice making water is sprayed on the ice making section cooled by this evaporating pipe There is known a flow-down type automatic ice making machine that supplies ice to produce ice and then releases the ice from the ice making unit by dropping it in the deicing operation. This automatic ice maker is equipped with an ice making water tank to store the required amount of ice making water. During ice making operation, the ice making water in the ice making water tank is pumped by the ice making water pump and supplied to the ice making unit, and ice making that has not caused freezing The water is configured to be sent back to the ice making unit again after being collected in the ice making water tank. Further, when the ice making in the ice making unit is completed and the ice making operation is shifted to the deicing operation, the deicing water is sprayed and supplied to the back surface of the ice making unit to promote melting of the frozen surface with ice.

  By the way, in the automatic ice making machine described above, an ice making water tank with a small capacity may be used for the purpose of restricting product dimensions and sharing parts. In such an automatic ice making machine, when the amount of ice making water necessary for producing ice of a predetermined size in the ice making unit exceeds the capacity of the ice making water tank, the ice making water tank is supplied with ice making water during ice making operation. (See Patent Document 1). FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of an automatic ice making machine 10 that replenishes during such ice making operation. In this automatic ice making machine 10, a makeup water supply pipe 14 branched from the deicing water supply pipe 12 is provided. It extends to the ice making water tank 16, and the open end side of the makeup water supply pipe 14 faces the ice making water tank 16. In addition, a float switch 18 is provided inside the ice making water tank 16 so that the float switch 18 detects the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank 16. When the float switch 18 detects the lower limit water level of the ice making water, the on-off valve 14a disposed in the make-up water supply pipe 14 is opened, and ice making water is supplied to the ice making water tank 16. .

JP 2010-230177 A

  However, in the configuration in which ice making water is directly supplied from the make-up water supply pipe 14 to the ice making water tank 16 as in the conventional automatic ice making machine 10, the ice making water tank is vigorously supplied by the ice making water that is vigorously supplied from the make-up water supply pipe 14. The water surface in 16 may fluctuate greatly or water splash may occur. For this reason, the float switch 18 may erroneously detect the water level of the ice making water, and the water level of the ice making water may not be accurately grasped. In addition, abnormal suction of ice-making water in the circulation pump 19 may occur, and normal ice may not be generated. In addition, in the conventional configuration, it is necessary to extend the makeup water supply pipe 14 from the deicing water supply pipe 12 to the ice making water tank 16 in the housing of the automatic ice maker 10, and the piping work of the makeup water supply pipe 14 is complicated. It was. Further, when the ice making water tank 16 is maintained, it is necessary to detach the makeup water supply pipe 14 from the ice making water tank 16, and there is a problem that the work efficiency of the maintenance is lowered.

  That is, the present invention has been proposed in order to solve these problems inherent in the automatic ice making machine according to the prior art, and it supplies supply water to the ice making water tank indirectly from the supply water supply pipe. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic ice maker configured to do this.

In order to solve the above problems and achieve the intended purpose, an automatic ice making machine according to the present invention is:
An ice making unit, an ice making water tank for storing ice making water, and the ice making water tank disposed in the ice making water tank and storing the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank during the ice making operation from the water sprinkling means via the ice making water supply pipe An ice pump that is disposed in the ice making water tank and has a water level detecting means that detects the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank, and has not been frozen in the ice making unit during ice making operation. The water is collected in the ice making water tank, and makeup water is supplied from the makeup water supply source when the water level detecting means detects that the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank has reached the predetermined level. Automatic ice maker,
An ice-making water circulation section connecting one end of the ice-making water supply pipe to a first supply pipe connected to a discharge port of the circulation pump and a second supply pipe connected to the water sprinkling means in the ice-making water supply pipe; A replenishment water distribution section derived from the ice-making water distribution section, and a connection pipe provided detachably on the ice-making water supply pipe;
A make-up water supply pipe that is connected to the make- up water supply source and is connected to the ice-making water supply pipe by being connected to the make- up water circulation section, and makes the make- up water circulate in the ice making operation .
A makeup water on-off valve disposed on the makeup water supply pipe and opening and closing the makeup water supply pipe;
In the ice making operation, when the water level detecting means detects the predetermined water level, the makeup water on / off valve is opened to allow makeup water from the makeup water supply source to flow from the makeup water circulation section to the ice making water circulation section. The gist of the present invention is that the ice making water flowing through the ice making water circulation part is joined together, and makeup water joined with the ice making water is supplied from the water sprinkling means to the ice making part via the second supply pipe .
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the makeup water is once supplied to the ice making section and then supplied to the ice making water tank, the makeup water is more gentle than when the makeup water is directly supplied from the makeup water supply pipe to the ice making water tank. Makeup water can be supplied. As a result, it is possible to prevent the water level in the ice making water tank from fluctuating greatly or causing water splashing during replenishment, thereby preventing the water level detection means from causing false detections or ice making abnormalities. it can. Further, since it is not necessary to extend the make-up water supply pipe to the ice making water tank, the work of making the make-up water supply pipe can be facilitated. Moreover, since it is not necessary to remove the makeup water supply pipe during maintenance of the ice making water tank, the workability of the maintenance is not deteriorated. Further, since the makeup water supply pipe is connected to the ice making water supply pipe through the connection pipe, it is possible to easily connect the makeup water supply pipe and the ice making water supply pipe. Furthermore, the connecting pipe is constituted by an ice making water circulation section and a makeup water circulation section, so that makeup water from the makeup water supply pipe can be reliably sent to the ice making water supply pipe.

The gist of the automatic ice making machine according to claim 2 is that the ice making water circulation section has a portion having a smaller inner diameter than the first supply pipe and the second supply pipe .
According to the invention of claim 2, since the ice-making water circulation portion of the connection pipe has a portion having a smaller inner diameter than the first supply pipe and the second supply pipe, the flow rate of the ice-making water is suppressed by the connection pipe, The amount of ice making water supplied from the water tank to the ice making unit can be reduced. Thereby, the size of the ice manufactured in the ice making part can be reduced. Moreover, if the internal diameter of the ice-making water circulation part is changed, the size of the ice to be manufactured can be adjusted. In addition, since a member such as an orifice that suppresses the flow rate of the ice making water supply pipe is not necessary, the number of parts can be suppressed.

In order to solve the problem and achieve the initial goal, an automatic ice making machine according to claim 3 is :
An ice making unit, an ice making water tank that stores ice making water, and the ice making water tank that is disposed in the ice making water tank and that is stored in the ice making water tank during ice making operation is supplied to the ice making unit through an ice making water supply pipe A circulation pump and a water level detecting means disposed in the ice making water tank and detecting the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank are provided. During ice making operation, ice making water that has not been frozen in the ice making unit is made. An automatic tank configured to supply makeup water from a makeup water supply source when the water level detection means detects that the level of ice making water in the ice making water tank has reached a predetermined level while being collected by the water tank. In ice machine,
A makeup water supply pipe connected to the makeup water supply source and connected to the ice making water supply pipe through a connection pipe detachably provided on the ice making water supply pipe;
A makeup water on-off valve disposed on the makeup water supply pipe and opening and closing the makeup water supply pipe;
The connection pipe includes: an ice-making water circulation part that connects a first supply pipe on the ice-making water tank side in the ice-making water supply pipe and a second supply pipe on the ice-making part side in the ice-making water supply pipe; and the ice-making water circulation A replenishment water circulation section that is led out from the section and communicated with the replenishment water supply pipe,
The ice-making water circulation part has a portion having a smaller inner diameter than the first supply pipe and the second supply pipe,
In the ice making operation, when the water level detecting means detects the predetermined water level, the makeup water opening / closing valve is opened to supply makeup water from the makeup water supply source to the makeup water supply pipe, the makeup water circulation section, and the ice making water. The gist is that the ice making unit is configured to be supplied via the circulation unit and the second supply pipe .
According to the invention of claim 3, since the makeup water is once supplied to the ice making section and then supplied to the ice making water tank, it is gentler than when the makeup water is supplied directly from the makeup water supply pipe to the ice making water tank. Makeup water can be supplied. As a result, it is possible to prevent the water level in the ice making water tank from fluctuating greatly or causing water splashing during replenishment, thereby preventing the water level detection means from causing false detections or ice making abnormalities. it can. Further, since it is not necessary to extend the make-up water supply pipe to the ice making water tank, the work of making the make-up water supply pipe can be facilitated. Moreover, since it is not necessary to remove the makeup water supply pipe during maintenance of the ice making water tank, the workability of the maintenance is not deteriorated. Further, since the makeup water supply pipe is connected to the ice making water supply pipe through the connection pipe, it is possible to easily connect the makeup water supply pipe and the ice making water supply pipe. Furthermore, the connecting pipe is constituted by an ice making water circulation section and a makeup water circulation section, so that makeup water from the makeup water supply pipe can be reliably sent to the ice making water supply pipe. Further, since the ice making water circulation part of the connection pipe has a portion having a smaller inner diameter than the first supply pipe and the second supply pipe, the flow rate of the ice making water is suppressed by the connection pipe and supplied from the ice making water tank to the ice making part. The amount of ice-making water produced can be reduced. Thereby, the size of the ice manufactured in the ice making part can be reduced. Moreover, if the internal diameter of the ice-making water circulation part is changed, the size of the ice to be manufactured can be adjusted. In addition, since a member such as an orifice that suppresses the flow rate of the ice making water supply pipe is not necessary, the number of parts can be suppressed.

  According to the automatic ice making machine of the present invention, it is possible to suppress erroneous detection of the water level detection means and occurrence of abnormal ice making.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the automatic ice making machine which concerns on the Example of this invention. It is a front view which shows the connection pipe which concerns on an Example. It is a side view which partially cuts and shows the connection pipe which concerns on an Example. It is a side view which shows the connection pipe which concerns on another Example partially broken. It is explanatory drawing which shows the automatic ice making machine which concerns on a prior art example.

  Next, the automatic ice making machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by giving a preferred embodiment. In the embodiment, a flow-down type ice maker that produces half-moon shaped ice on the surface of an ice making unit that is erected substantially vertically will be described as an example of an automatic ice maker.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an automatic ice making machine 20 according to an embodiment. The automatic ice making machine 20 has three ice making parts 24, 24, 24 each including a pair of ice making plates 22, 22 in parallel. The ice making units 24, 24, 24 are cooled or heated by a refrigerant supplied from a refrigeration circuit (not shown). Between the pair of ice making plates 22 and 22 in each ice making section 24, an evaporation pipe 26 led out from the refrigeration circuit is arranged in a meandering manner, and refrigerant is circulated and supplied to the evaporation pipe 26 during ice making operation. During the deicing operation, hot gas is circulated and supplied to the evaporation pipe 26. Above each ice making section 24, a water spray means 32 having a double pipe structure in which an ice making water channel 28 and a deicing water channel 30 are internally defined is disposed. An ice making water supply pipe 34 for supplying ice making water to the ice making water path 28 and an deicing water supply pipe 36 for supplying deicing water to the deicing water path 30 are connected to the water spray means 32. Then, the ice making water supplied to the ice making water passage 28 is supplied from the ice making water passage 28 to the surface of the ice making plate 22 through the ice making water injection holes 38 provided in the water sprinkling means 32. In addition, the deicing water supplied to the deicing water channel 30 is supplied from the deicing water channel 30 to the back surface of the ice making plate 22 through the deicing water injection hole 40 provided in the sprinkling means 32. The ice making section 24 is provided with an ice making thermistor (not shown) for detecting the temperature on the discharge side of the evaporation pipe 26, and the ice making operation is terminated when the ice making thermistor detects the ice making completion temperature. It has become.

  Below the ice making section 24, an ice making water tank 42 for storing ice making water is provided to open upward. The volume of the ice making water tank 42 is set to be smaller than the amount of water necessary for producing ice of a set size in the ice making unit 24 in one ice making operation (in the embodiment, about 1 of the necessary amount of water). Set to / 2. Further, inside the ice making water tank 42, a circulation pump 44 that pumps the ice making water in the tank 42 to the ice making unit 24 through the ice making water supply pipe 34 is disposed. Further, the ice making water tank 42 is provided with a float switch (water level detecting means) 48 having a float 46 that moves up and down in accordance with the water level of the ice making water. The float switch 48 includes an upper limit switch 50 positioned at the upper limit level of ice making water and a lower limit switch 52 positioned at the lower limit level (predetermined water level) of ice making water. The float switch 48 detects the upper limit water level of the ice making water when the float 46 rises to the same level as the upper limit switch 50, and when the float 46 descends to the same level as the lower limit switch 52, the lower limit water level of the ice making water is detected. Is to be detected.

  Between the ice making unit 24 and the ice making water tank 42, an ice guide plate 54 for receiving ice falling from the ice making unit 24 during the deicing operation is disposed in an inclined posture. The ice received in the step is guided toward an ice storage (not shown) arranged below the ice making water tank 42. A plurality of return holes 54 a are formed in the ice guide plate 54, and uniced water that has not been frozen in the ice making unit 24 drops from the return holes 54 a to the ice making water tank 42 and is collected in the ice making water tank 42. Is done. In the deicing operation, the deicing water is collected and stored in the ice making water tank 42 through the return hole 54a and used as ice making water in the next ice making operation.

  One end of the deicing water supply pipe 36 is connected to the water spray means 32 and communicates with the deicing water channel 30, and the other end is connected to an external water source (makeup water supply source) not shown. The deicing water supply pipe 36 is provided with a deicing water on / off valve 58 controlled by a control device 56 to be described later. During the deicing operation, the deicing water on / off valve 58 is controlled to be opened so that room temperature water is supplied from an external water source. It is supplied to the sprinkling means 32 through the deicing water supply pipe 36.

  The ice making water supply pipe 34 includes a first supply pipe 34a on the ice making water tank 42 side and a second supply pipe 34b on the ice making part 24 side. The first supply pipe 34a and the second supply pipe 34b is connected by the connection pipe 60 mentioned later. The lower end (one end) of the first supply pipe 34 a is connected to the discharge port 44 a of the circulation pump 44, and the upper end (the other end) of the first supply pipe 34 a is connected to the connection pipe 60. On the other hand, the upper end (one end) of the second supply pipe 34b is connected to the water spray means 32 and communicates with the ice making water channel 28, and the lower end (the other end) of the second supply pipe 34b is connected to the connection pipe 60. Connected. The inner diameter dimensions of the first supply pipe 34a and the second supply pipe 34b are set to be substantially the same.

  A makeup water supply pipe 62 is branched from the upstream side of the deicing water opening / closing valve 58 in the deicing water supply pipe 36, and the makeup water supply pipe 62 is detachably connected to the ice making water supply pipe 34. The ice making water supply pipe 34 is communicatively connected via a pipe 60. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection pipe 60 includes an ice making water circulation portion 64 whose upper and lower ends are open, and a makeup water circulation that is led out from the ice making water circulation portion 64 and opened at one end. And a substantially T-shaped three-pronged pipe. The ice-making water circulation section 64 is interposed between the first supply pipe 34a and the second supply pipe 34b and connects the first and second supply pipes 34a and 34b. That is, the lower end portion of the ice-making water circulation portion 64 is connected to the upper end portion of the first supply pipe 34a, and the upper end portion of the ice-making water circulation portion 64 is connected to the lower end portion of the second supply pipe 34b. At this time, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 42 circulates through the ice making water circulation portion 64. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner diameter dimension of the ice making water circulation part 64 is set to be substantially the same as the inner diameter dimension of the first and second supply pipes 34a, 34b. As shown in FIG. 2, the makeup water circulation section 66 communicates with the ice making water circulation section 64 and an open end is connected to the makeup water supply pipe 62.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the makeup water supply pipe 62 is provided with a makeup water opening / closing valve 68 for opening and closing the makeup water supply pipe 62, and the makeup water opening / closing valve 68 is connected to the makeup water supply pipe 62. When opened, normal temperature water (make-up water) flows from the external water source through the make-up water supply pipe 62. That is, at the time of replenishment, makeup water is supplied to the ice making water supply pipe 34 via the makeup water supply pipe 62 → the makeup water circulation section 66 → the ice making water circulation section 64, and is sprinkled with the ice making water flowing through the ice making water supply pipe 34. Sent to means 32. Then, makeup water is supplied to the ice making unit 24 through the ice making water injection hole 38 of the water sprinkling means 32.

  The automatic ice making machine 20 according to the embodiment includes a control device 56 that performs water supply control to the ice making water tank 42. As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 56 is electrically connected to the float switch 48, the deicing water opening / closing valve 58 and the makeup water opening / closing valve 68. In the ice making operation, when the ice making thermistor detects the ice making completion temperature, the control device 56 is set to supply the deicing water to the ice making unit 24 by controlling the deicing water opening / closing valve 58 to open. Further, in the ice making operation, when the float switch 48 detects the lower limit water level, the control device 56 is set to open the make-up water on-off valve 68 and cause the make-up water to flow through the make-up water supply pipe 62. Yes. When the ice making water level in the ice making water tank 42 rises and the float switch 48 detects the upper limit water level, the control device 56 closes the make-up water opening / closing valve 68 to the make-up water supply pipe 62. Set to stop the supply of makeup water. In the embodiment, the control device 56 is set to supply the makeup water only once during the ice making operation.

(Effects of Example)
Next, the operation of the automatic ice maker 20 according to the embodiment will be described. In the ice making operation, the refrigerant is supplied from the refrigeration circuit to the evaporation pipe 26 to cool the ice making plate 22 and the circulation pump 44 is operated to supply the ice making water in the ice making water tank 42 to the ice making unit 24. . That is, the ice-making water sucked up by the circulation pump 44 flows through the first supply pipe 34a, flows into the connection pipe 60, passes through the ice-making water distribution part 64, and is sent to the second supply pipe 34b. Then, the ice making water flows from the second supply pipe 34 b into the ice making water passage 28 of the water sprinkling means 32, and the ice making water is sprayed to the surface of the ice making plate 22 through the ice making water injection hole 38. The ice making water supplied to the ice making plate 22 is gradually cooled by exchanging heat with the ice making plate 22 and starts to freeze on the ice making plate 22. Uniced water that has not been frozen in the ice making section 24 falls from the ice making section 24, is received by the ice guide plate 54, and is returned to the ice making water tank 42 through the return hole 54a. At this time, the unfrozen water is received by the ice guide plate 54, and the falling speed is lowered when passing through the return hole 54a. Therefore, the unfrozen water forms the ice-making water tank 42 with almost no water splashing. To be recovered.

  When the ice making operation proceeds and ice is formed on the ice making plate 22, the ice making water in the ice making water tank 42 decreases, and the float 46 of the float switch 48 descends with the ice making water level. When the float 46 is lowered to the lower limit water level of the ice making water, the lower limit switch 52 reacts to the float 46 and the float switch 48 detects the lower limit water level of the ice making water. When the float switch 48 detects the lower limit water level, the control device 56 controls the opening of the makeup water opening / closing valve 68 to open the makeup water supply pipe 62. When the makeup water supply pipe 62 is opened, normal temperature water from the external water source flows through the makeup water supply pipe 62 and flows into the ice making water supply pipe 34 through the connection pipe 60. That is, the makeup water flows into the ice making water circulation section 64 through the makeup water circulation section 66 and merges with the ice making water flowing in the ice making water circulation section 64. Then, the make-up water is sent from the ice-making water circulation section 64 to the ice-making water passage 28 of the sprinkling means 32 through the second supply pipe 34 b, and the make-up water is supplied to the surface of the ice making plate 22. As described above, in the embodiment, the connection pipe 60 includes the ice-making water circulation part 64 and the makeup water circulation part 66, and the makeup water from the makeup water supply pipe 62 can be reliably sent to the ice-making water supply pipe 34. it can.

  The make-up water supplied to the surface of the ice making plate 22 flows down the ice making plate 22 without freezing and falls from the ice making unit 24 in the same manner as the non-freezing water. Then, the makeup water dropped from the ice making plate 22 is received by the ice guide plate 54 and collected in the ice making water tank 42 through the return hole 54 a of the ice guide plate 54. That is, makeup water is received by the ice guide plate 54 and the dropping speed is reduced while dropping into the ice making water tank 42 through the return hole 54a, so that the impact when being collected in the ice making water tank 42 is small. Become. Accordingly, it is possible to suitably suppress the water surface in the ice making water tank 42 from greatly fluctuating or water splashing when supplying makeup water.

  When makeup water is supplied to the ice making water tank 42, the float 46 of the float switch 48 rises with the ice making water level. When the ice making water level reaches the upper limit water level, the float switch 48 detects the upper limit water level. When the upper limit water level is detected, the control device 56 controls the closing of the makeup water opening / closing valve 68 and terminates the supply of makeup water. Even if the supply of makeup water is terminated, the circulation pump 44 operates and the ice making operation is continued.

  As described above, according to the automatic ice making machine 20 according to the embodiment, the makeup water is once supplied to the ice making section 24 and then supplied to the ice making water tank 42. Can be gently supplied to the ice making water tank 42. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the float switch 48 from erroneously detecting the water surface in the ice making water tank 42 from being largely fluctuated or water splashing. In addition, since the water surface in the ice making water tank 42 does not vary greatly, the suction abnormality of the circulation pump 44 hardly occurs, and it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the ice making abnormality in which an irregularly shaped ice is manufactured. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to extend the make-up water supply pipe 62 to the ice making water tank 42, the piping work of the make-up water supply pipe 62 can be facilitated. Moreover, since it is not necessary to remove the makeup water supply pipe 62 during maintenance of the ice making water tank 42, the maintenance workability is not lowered.

  In addition, when ice of a predetermined size is formed in the ice making unit 24 and the ice making thermistor detects the ice making completion temperature, the ice making operation is finished and the operation proceeds to the deicing operation. When the deicing operation is started, hot gas is supplied from the refrigeration circuit to the evaporation pipe 26, the ice making plate 22 is heated by the hot gas, and the ice starts to melt. Further, the control device 56 controls the opening of the deicing water opening / closing valve 58 to open the deicing water supply pipe 36 and supply the deicing water from the external water source to the ice making unit 24. That is, the deicing water is supplied to the deicing water channel 30 of the sprinkling means 32 through the deicing water supply pipe 36, and the deicing water is supplied to the back surface of the ice making plate 22. The deicing water that has flowed down the ice making plate 22 is collected in the ice making water tank 42 through the return hole 54a of the ice guide plate 54, and is used as ice making water in the next ice making operation.

[Another Example]
Next, an automatic ice making machine according to another embodiment will be described. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 employs a connection pipe 60 in which the inner diameter of the ice-making water circulation part 64 is set to be substantially equal to that of the ice-making water supply pipe 34 (the first supply pipe 34a and the second supply pipe 34b). It was. On the other hand, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a connection pipe 72 having a portion where the inner diameter dimension of the ice making water circulation part 70 is smaller than the first supply pipe 34a and the second supply pipe 34b is adopted. . Specifically, a throttle part (part with a small inner diameter dimension) 74 is formed inside the ice making water circulation part 70, and the inner diameter dimension of the part where the throttle part 74 is provided is the first supply pipe 34a and the second supply pipe 34b. It is getting smaller. Thus, by providing the throttle part 74 in the ice making water circulation part 64, the amount of ice making water per unit time supplied to the ice making part can be reduced. Thus, the amount of ice-making water flowing down the ice-making plate is reduced, and the size of ice formed on the ice-making plate can be reduced when the ice-making thermistor detects the ice-making completion temperature. In FIG. 4, the same members as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  That is, it is possible to easily adjust the size of the ice formed on the ice making plate by providing the throttle part 74 in the ice making water circulation part 64 and changing the inner diameter. Therefore, by preparing various connection pipes 60 and 72 having different inner diameters of the ice-making water circulation part 64 and simply attaching and detaching the connection pipes 60 and 72 to the ice-making water supply pipe 34, various sizes of ice can be produced. Is possible. Moreover, since the ice size can be adjusted simply by replacing the connection pipes 60 and 72, there is no need to separately provide a member such as an orifice for suppressing the flow rate of the ice making water, and the number of parts can be reduced. In another embodiment, the throttle part 74 is provided in a part of the ice-making water circulation part 70, but a connecting pipe having a configuration in which the entire inner diameter of the ice-making water circulation part is smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the ice-making water supply pipe may be used. Good.

  In the embodiment, the makeup water supply pipe is branched from the deicing water supply pipe and connected to the ice making water supply pipe. However, the makeup water supply pipe derived from an independent makeup water supply source is used as the ice making water supply pipe. You may connect. In the embodiment, the makeup water is supplied only once. However, the makeup water supply frequency may be appropriately changed according to the set ice size and the capacity of the ice making water tank. Further, in the examples, the flow-down type ice maker has been described as an example, but if it is a type of ice maker that circulates and supplies ice making water during ice making operation and replenishes ice making water, for example, a jet ice making machine, etc. An automatic ice maker may be employed.

24 ice making section, 32 sprinkling means, 34 ice making water supply pipe, 34a first supply pipe
34b Second supply pipe , 42 Ice making water tank, 44 Circulation pump, 44a Discharge port
48 Float switch (water level detection means) , 56 Control device, 60 Connection pipe
62 makeup water supply pipe, 64 ice making water circulation section , 66 makeup water circulation section, 68 makeup water on-off valve 70 ice making water circulation section, 72 connection pipe, 74 throttle section ( part having a small inner diameter)

Claims (3)

An ice making unit (24), an ice making water tank (42) for storing ice making water, and the ice making water tank (42) are disposed in the ice making water tank (42), and the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank (42) during ice making operation is made into ice. A circulation pump (44) for supplying the ice making part (24 ) from the water sprinkling means (32) through the water supply pipe (34) and the ice making water tank (42), the ice making water tank (42) Water level detecting means (48) for detecting the level of the ice making water inside, and during ice making operation, the ice making water that did not freeze in the ice making part (24) is collected in the ice making water tank (42), An automatic ice maker configured to supply makeup water from a makeup water supply source when the water level detection means (48) detects that the water level of the ice making water in the ice making water tank (42) has reached a predetermined level. In
One end of the ice making water supply pipe (34) is connected to the discharge port (44a) of the circulation pump (44), and the water sprinkling means (32) in the ice making water supply pipe (34). An ice-making water circulation part (64, 70) for connecting the second supply pipe (34b) connected to the water supply, and a make-up water circulation part (66) derived from the ice-making water circulation part (64, 70), A connection pipe (60) detachably provided on the ice-making water supply pipe (34);
Supply water supply that is connected to the make- up water supply source and is connected to the ice-making water supply pipe (34) by being connected to the make-up water circulation section (66), and makes supply water circulate in the ice making operation. Tube (62),
A makeup water on-off valve (68) disposed on the makeup water supply pipe (62) and opening and closing the makeup water supply pipe (62);
In the ice making operation, when the water level detection means (48) detects the predetermined water level, the makeup water opening / closing valve (68) is opened to supply makeup water from the makeup water supply source to the makeup water circulation section (66 ) To the ice-making water circulation section (64, 70) and merge with the ice-making water flowing through the ice-making water circulation section (64, 70), and make-up water merged with the ice-making water is supplied to the second supply pipe (34b). An automatic ice maker configured to supply the water from the water sprinkling means (34) to the ice making section (24). The ice making water distribution unit (70), the first supply pipe (34a) and the second supply pipe (34b) automatic ice maker of claim 1 has a small site (74) of inner diameter than. An ice making unit (24), an ice making water tank (42) for storing ice making water, and the ice making water tank (42) are disposed in the ice making water tank (42), and the ice making water stored in the ice making water tank (42) during ice making operation is made into ice. A circulation pump (44) for supplying the ice making section (24) via a water supply pipe (34), and the ice making water tank (42) are disposed in the ice making water tank (42). And a water level detection means (48) for detecting the ice making water in the ice making section (24) during ice making operation, and the ice making water tank (42) collects the ice making water that has not been frozen. In the automatic ice maker configured to supply makeup water from a makeup water supply source when the water level detection means (48) detects that the water level of the ice making water inside has reached a predetermined level,
A makeup water supply connected to the makeup water supply source and connected to the ice making water supply pipe (34) via a connection pipe (72) detachably provided on the ice making water supply pipe (34). Tube (62),
A makeup water on-off valve (68) disposed on the makeup water supply pipe (62) and opening and closing the makeup water supply pipe (62);
The connection pipe (72) includes a first supply pipe (34a) on the ice making water tank (42) side in the ice making water supply pipe (34) and an ice making part (24) side in the ice making water supply pipe (32). An ice-making water circulation part (70) for connecting the second supply pipe (34b), and a makeup-water circulation part (66) derived from the ice-making water circulation part (70) and connected to the makeup water supply pipe (62). )
The ice making water circulation part (70) has a portion (74) having a smaller inner diameter than the first supply pipe (34a) and the second supply pipe (34b),
In ice making operation, when the water level detection means (48) detects the predetermined water level, the makeup water open / close valve (68) is opened to supply makeup water from the makeup water supply source to the makeup water supply pipe (62) , An automatic ice maker configured to supply to the ice making section (24) through the makeup water circulation section (66), the ice making water circulation section (70), and the second supply pipe (34b) .

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